The court in the Farion case has appointed a public defender for the defendant
In Lviv, the court hearing the murder case of linguist Iryna Farion appointed a public defender for the defendant, Vyacheslav Zinchenko, after his primary defense attorney was no longer able to represent him in court. The decision was made to ensure that the trial would not be delayed and to guarantee the defendant’s legal representation.
The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Lviv was forced to intervene promptly in the trial regarding the murder of Iryna Farion because the defendant’s attorney, Larysa Kryvoruchko, did not appear at the hearing, and it later turned out that her license to practice law had been temporarily suspended. As a result, the defense was effectively left without a representative, which could have halted proceedings in this high-profile case.
Vyacheslav Zinchenko himself stated in court that he had no information about the change in his lawyer’s status and insisted on continuing the collaboration, while acknowledging that if this proved impossible, he would request time to find a new private defense attorney. In the courtroom, he also announced his intention to file a motion to recuse the panel of judges, which added tension to the proceedings.
After discussing the situation, the court decided not to delay the proceedings and to temporarily appoint a lawyer from the Center for Free Legal Aid to represent Zinchenko. This step allows the hearings to continue without procedural delays and ensures the defendant receives the legal defense guaranteed by law.
The case remains one of the most high-profile in Lviv, and every procedural decision in it attracts significant public attention, as it concerns the murder of a well-known public figure and linguist.
The linguist Iryna Farion’s daughter, Sofia Osoba, reported that she is once again under state protection and continues to receive regular threats on social media.
The Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of Lawyers of Vinnytsia Oblast suspended the right to practice law for 42-year-old Kyiv lawyer Larysa Kryvoruchko.
In the Farion case, the court questioned a witness and examined Zinchenko’s phone
In Lviv, the court continuedhearing the case regarding the murder of Faryon.
Earlier, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Lviv extended the pretrial detention of Zinchenko, who is accused of murdering Iryna Faryon, until March 9, 2026.
A new witness in the Faryon case stated that it was not the defendant Zinchenko who was following her.
As a reminder, the suspect in the Faryon murder case claimed in court that his confession was made under duress.
